Cleaning depository



' Nov. 3, 1959 R. K. HENSLEY, JR 2,911,083

CLEANING DEPOSITORY Filed July 18, 1955 Fig. 5 I2 Robe/I K. Hensley, Jn

v IN V EN TOR.

Un d S at Patent "ice A This invention relates to an improved cleaning depository and is a modification of the invention disclosed and described in the application of Robert K-."Hensley,.,lr.,

Serial No. 33l,564,-filed January 16, 1953, now Patent No. 2,769,516, for Cleaning Depository.

The primary object of the present invention resides in the provision of a device adapted to receive articles of clothing and the like to be dry cleaned or laundered which are deposited by a patron, the. machine-eliminating the necessity for continuous surveillance by personnel of a dry cleaning establishment or laundry of the garmcnts being left at the establishment by patrons.

A further object of the invention resides in the pro- 'vision of a cleaningdepository adapted to substantially reduce the overhead of a dry cleaning establishment or laundry by eliminating the necessity of personnel for receiving the garments.

An additional object of the invention resides in the provision of a cleaning depository adapted to provide a receipt only when a bundle of garments has been deposited in the machine and which includes means for preventing undue or unjust claims against the cleaning establishment by patrons possessing receipts purporting to represent garments which were not deposited.

The construction of this invention features a novel garment receiving drum which is mounted within a housing. Means are associated with the drum for preventing rotation of the drum past a given stop position unless garments or the like are deposited in the drum. When the drum is permitted to turn its full cycle, a suitable check or receipt will be issued to the patron.

Still further objects and features of this invention reside in the provision of a cleaning depository machine that is strong and durable, simple inconstruction and manufacture, capable of being utilized in various locker rooms, gymnasiums, laundries, dry cleaning establish- Patented Nov. 3, 1959 2 Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional detail view of the invention;

Figure 6 is a sectional detail view as taken along the plane of line 66 in Figure 2 illustrating in particular theconstr'uction of the arm for engaging the stop and the-flange on the drum; and 7 Figure 7 is a sectional detail view illustrating the construction of the cam means for actuating the receipt discharge mechanism. 7 I

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, reference numeral '10 generally designates the improved cleaning depository comprising the present invention. The cleaningdepository 10 includes a housing 12 ofan suitable configuration provided with an opening 14 therein which may be closed by a lid 16 provided with handle and pivotally hinged as at 18 to the hou'sing12 or by any other suitable closure. Thehousing 12 may also have a further opening 20 therein closed by hinged door 22 which is hingedly secured to the housing 12 by means of a piano hinge 24 or the like. A suitable lock 26 may be proservice for proper functioning.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of the invention which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this improved cleaning depository, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, by way of example only, wherein: I

Figure l is a perspective view of the cleaning depository comprising the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional detail view as taken along the plane of line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a partial vertical sectional view of the cleaning depository shown with the drum in a stop position preventing further rotation of the drum since a bundle of garments was not deposited;

Figure 4 is a view similar to that of Figure 3, but illustrating the drum in position for permitting further rotation due to the fact that a bundle of garments has lifed the actuating lever so as to remove the arm from engagement with the stop;

vided for the door '22, if such is desired.

Rotatably mounted in'the housing 12 is a main shaft 28 carrying a drum 30 thereon. The drum 30 has a recess 32 therein defined by sector plates 34 and 36 as well as the side walls of the drum, as indicated at 38.

A pair of reinforcing guide ribs 40 and 42 are provided.

Iournaled in the housing 12 is another shaft 44 on which an actuating lever 46' is mounted; The actuating lever 46 rotates with the shaft 44 and extends between the guides 40 and 42. Also carried by the shaft 44 is an arm 48 having a finger 50 preferably integrally formed therewith which is adapted to engage underneath the flange 54 mounted along the periphery of the drum, the flange 54 terminating in a stop as at 56. A fitting 58 is mounted on the shaft 44 and a spring 60 which is also secured to a fitting 62 in the form of an eye or the like.

attached to the housing 12.

Mounted on the drum 30 is a cam 64 which is adapted to engage an actuating member 66, see Figure 7, of a ticket delivery mechanism, 68 which includes a push rod 70 adapted to engage the stack of tickets 72 to urge the tickets beneath a window 74 and then outwardly of the ticket delivery mechanism 68.

The operation of this cleaning depository is quite simple. A patron wishing to deposit laundry or dry cleaning into the machine for the particular purpose for which it is provided merely lifts the lid 16 open by a handle 17. Then, the laundry in the form of a bundle or the like may be deposited in the recess-32, the laundry being designated by reference numeral 90. The patron, upon viewing the receipt appearing in the window 74, may write out on a slip of paper provided for that purpose the number of his receipt and aflix it to his bundle. Then, grasping handle 92, the patron may rotate the handle 92 from the limited position provided by the stop 94 to the position limited by the stop 96. This causes the bundle to be rotated to a position where the bundle is engaged between the sector plate 36 and the actuating lever 46 which pivots the actuating lever 46 to remove the arm 48 out of possibility of engagement with the stop 56 and out of engagement with the flange 54. This permits the bundle 90 to fall into the housing from whence it may be removed by opening the door 22. The spring 60 will, of course, hold the lever in the recess 32. The rotation of the drum 30 will cause the cam 64 to engage the actuating member 66 of the ticket delivery mechanism 68 to urge one of the tickets 72 outwardly from beneath the window 74 and present it to the patron. This ticket the patron may keep as his receipt for the bundle of garments.

If it is attempted to rotate the handle 92 without first depositing clothing or the like, the drum 30 will be rotated until the arm 48 abuts against the stop 56. This will prevent further rotation of the drum 30. Since the cam 64 does not strike the actuating mechanism 66 .until immediately after the arm 48 wouldphaveiengaged the stop 56, the operation of the handle 92 without first depositing the garments willnot deliver a'ticket or' receipt to the patron who doe's'not deposit his bundle or garments first.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and, changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, allsuitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed. I

What is claimed as new is as follows:

, 1. A depository comprising a hollow housing, a drum rotatably mounted within said housing, said drum having a recess therein defined by a pair of radial sector plates intersecting at the center of the drum, a pair of reinforcing ribs upstanding from said sector plates and interconnecting the inner end portions of the plates, said housing having an access opening-3 adjacent the upper end and a closure lid therefor, handle means connected with the drum and disposed exteriorly of the housing for 3 4. pivotally supported on said housing for movement from a normal position in the path of movement of the stop member to a released position out of the path of movement of the stop member, an actuating lever rigid with said arm, said lever being disposed against one of the sector plates when the recess is aligned with the access opening with the terminal end of the lever being disposed intermediate the ribs and adjacent the inner ends of the sector plates whereby the lever will sweep across substantially the entire area between the sector plates as the drum isrotated towards a dumping position whereby a package disposed within the recess when aligned with the access opening will engage the lever during movement of the drum towards a dumping position and cause outward pivotal movement of lever thereby pivoting said arm out of the path of movement of the stop member whereby the drum may rotate to dumping position.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said arm and lever are spring urged to a normal position, said'drum having a longitudinally extending flange thereon, said stop member being mounted on said flange, said arm riding on the flange for engagement with the stop member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Birr June 29, 1954 

